Screening Hosted To Benefit Sag Harbor Cinema Restoration: Photos

SAG HARBOR, NY — December is the time many pay special attention to trees, picking choices to adorn holiday living rooms. For David Milarch, however, preserving the earth's trees is his passion and life's mission.

On Saturday evening, Reverend Karen Ann Campbell opened the doors of Christ Episcopal Church in Sag Harbor to a standing room only crowd for a screening of "The Tree Prophet", the story of Milarch's efforts to clone, replant and reforest ancient trees that have somehow survived thousands of years of climate change.

Fresh on the heels of a successful campaign to preserve the Sag Harbor Cinema, the film was presented by the Sag Harbor Partnership, spearheaded by Nick Gazzolo and artist April Gornik, who introduced the evening. Proceeds from the special event will benefit the restoration of the Sag Harbor Cinema.

Kathleen and Charlie Marder, owners of Marders in Bridgehampton, who share Milarch's passion for trees, produced the film. Their son Tucker Marder and filmmaker Christian Scheider directed and accompanied Mildarch and his son Jake on a pilgrimage promoting their Archangel Tree Archive.

A panel discussion with the filmmakers followed the screening, moderated by earth scientist Carl Safina, and included Forrest Gray, who produced the music for the film.

Photos by Richard Lewin Professional Photography, soniboy@aol.com.

Reporting by Richard Lewin.